• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• Blog
• |
• News
• |
• Advertise
• |
• 
• |
• 

05.21.12

• Enman, Brent: Wildman
• Phobos Corp: Felicity (EP)
• Confidence: Prelude
• Spit Like This: Normalityville Horror
• Hartmann, Oliver: Balance
• Spider Rockets: Bitten
• ReinXeed: Welcome to the Theater
• Empires of Eden: Channelling the Infinite
• Pellek: Bag of Tricks
• Burning Shadows: Gather, Darkness!
• Sledge Leather: Imagine Me Alive

05.14.12

• Charlie Shred: Charlie Shred
• Athel: Open Your Eyes to Society
• Siva Addiction: Bad Decisions
• Hardline: Danger Zone
• Great White: Elation
• Wig Wam: Wall Street
• Polution: Beyond Control
• Mirrormaze: Walkabout

05.07.12

• Sabaton: Carolus Rex
• Order of Nine: Seventh Year of the Broken Mirror
• Book of Reflections: Relentless Fighter
• Freak Kitchen: Land of Freaks (Reissue)
• Fatal Smile: 21st Century Freaks
• Corsair: Corsair
• Firewind: Few Against Many
• Malice: New Breed of Godz
• Crocs, The: ... And the Cradle Will Croc

[ More Music Reviews ]

Golden Resurrection: Man With a Mission

Melodic/Symphonic Power Metal

4.0/5.0

Liljegren Records/Nightmare Records (NA)
Facebook MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  10.17.2011

Golden Resurrection, the project of vocalist Christian Liljegren (Narnia, Audiovision, Divinefire) and guitarist Tommy 'ReinXeed' Johansson (ReinXeed) returns with their second album of melodic and symphonic power metal, Man With a Mission. Once more this album is a vehicle for GR's three fundamental elements: Liljegren's impressive metal vocals, the expression of his Christian faith, and Johansson's pure neo-classical guitar technique. As an aside, and not dismissing Johansson's significant skills, this Golden Resurrection album is light years ahead of ReinXeed's latest 1912, an average platter of melodic Euro power metal.

Above: The boys of Golden Resurrection trying to hold back the smiles.

Conversely, however, considering the prevalence of melodic power metal across the Atlantic, critics of the genre will likely dismiss Man With a Mission as simply more of the same (and the might be right). But for this style coupled with neo-classical guitar technique, this album amounts to a textbook for education in the field. Frankly, this is how it supposed be done.

Let's round out this discourse with some highlights. For straight forward melodic and symphonic power metal Man With a Mission and Identity in Christ are showcase tunes. Standing on the Rock and Are You Ready for the Power deliver simple and catchy melodic metal, with a big arena sound and sing along choruses. Golden Times traverses the ground of more melodic hard rock. The album ends with two cover songs from Kansas and Gary Moore, reflecting the peers that have influenced both Christian and Tommy. Point of Know Return is adequate, with little reinterpretation, but just get out your original and crank it up. Considering the guitar-driven nature of The End of the World, Johansson takes few liberties with Moore's fret work on this fine song.

Golden Resurrection succeeds where some fail, creating a repeatable and consistent experience from their first album. Actually, Man With a Mission could be a slight step above the former. Recommended.

Golden Resurrection succeeds where some fail, creating a repeatable and consistent experience from their first album. Actually, Man With a Mission could be a slight step above the former. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

My childhood was safe and sane. No abuse and no traumas. I was surrounded by a large and loving family who taught me the importance of hard work and a meaningful education.
   Ronnie James Dio

Lyrically I like to use themes that make the listener use his or her imagination, and to give a little of the lessons I've learned in my own life.
   Ronnie James Dio